House passes water-storage measure

TALLAHASSEE (AP) -- Untreated overflow from lakes and rivers could be pumped below ground into the Florida aquifer for storage for a dryer day under a bill passed Monday by the House 74-40.

Supporters say the technology will help the state meet future water demands and is safe and proven.

''Florida will have 20 million people by 2020,'' said the bill's sponsor, Rep. Joe Spratt, R-LaBelle. ''Let's plan for a future that's good for Florida. Let's be thoughtful.''

However, opponents say the idea is untested, and potentially harmful to the environment and possibly to people.

''How can we go home to the people that we represent and say we are willing to take that risk?'' asked Rep. Cindy Lerner, D-Miami, who noted that the federal Environmental Protection Agency has expressed concern that the idea hasn't been fully tested. ''I would urge you to think twice before you vote in favor of contaminating the Florida aquifer.''

The Senate earlier passed the bill (SB 854) on a 28-7 vote, but the House added a provision making parts of the Florida Panhandle exempt, so the new version will have to go back to Senators.

The bill would allow Florida to seek permission from federal environmental officials to pump as much as a billion gallons of overflowing lake and pond water down into the ground during rainy times.

Then, during dry spells, the water could be pumped back up. Most of it would then be used to help replenish the Everglades as part of a massive cleanup.

By not treating the water before pumping it into the aquifer, as is done now in a few cases, the state could save up to $400 million over 20 years.

The aquifer is a series of underground limestone cavities that provides much of the drinking water supply for Florida.

Environmentalists say the high pressure injection could break the aquifer walls and the surface water could contaminate the groundwater supply.

But many who voted against it said they simply weren't sure about the technology. That included Rep. Dan Gelber, who said the Legislature should go slowly because he didn't know if it was safe or not.

''This bill gives me a queasy feeling in my gut,'' said Gelber, D-Miami Beach. ''If we go forward and we are wrong we will not be able to fix this problem and fix its consequences.''

But supporters said the state Department of Environmental Protection, which oversees water quality, has approved of the idea. And Rep. Dwight Stansel said that in north Florida, there are places where surface water flows naturally into the aquifer anyway, and is treated when it is taken out.

''The water that is taken out of the ground will be treated to potable standards,'' said Stansel, D-Wellborn. ''Let's try to help thirsty South Florida with some of their water problems.''